Inkstand



(No Model.)

0; R. STRAUGHN.

INKSTAND.

No. 481,600. Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHARLES R. STRAUGHN, OF FERNWVOOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

INKSTAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,600, dated August 30,1892. Application filed January 16, 1892. Serial No. 418,261. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. STRAUGHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fernwood,Del-aware county,Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in In kstands, of which the followmg is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in inkstands; and its object is to furnish an inkstand the top of which will always be in place to prevent evaporation from the inkwell and to prevent dust and dirt from falling into it, except at the instant thepen is to be dipped into the ink.

My invention consists of an ink-well of the usual form supported upon a base which carries standards, between which and at a suitable height above the ink well is a shaft which is free to turn on bearings in or upon the standards. This shaft carries a downwardlyextending arm, to the lower end of which is pivoted the cap for covering the inkwell. Upon one end of the shaft is a crank, to which is pivoted the upper end of a con necting-rod, the lower end of which is pivoted to the rear end of a lever which is pivoted to one of the standards, and the front end of which is furnished with a button which is adapted to be depressed by the fingers of the hand holding the pen to cause through the mechanism conn ected therewith the cap which covers the well to be moved back, uncovering it.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several Views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an inkstand embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2, a section of Fig. 1 on line 1 2, the ink-well being shown in dotted lines. 7

A is the base, which may be constructed of metal, wood, or any suitable material; B, inkwells; 0, standards secured to base; D, shaft carried by standards and turning on pivots a; E, arm carried by shaft D and extending downwardly; F, cap secured to the lower end of arm E by pivot 19 and adapted normally to cover the top of the ink-well; G, crank carried by shaft D; H, connecting-rod, the upper end of which is pivoted to crank G; I, lever pivoted at K to standard 0, and to the rear end of which connecting-rod II is pivoted, and L, button carried by front end of lever I, and which is depressed by the finger when it is desired to open the well.

M, Fig. 2, is a stop carried by standard 0, which prevents a too-great upward movement of lever I.

The normal position of the cap F is shown by full lines in Fig. 2. Its Weight and the weight of its connected parts cause it to fall into a position which closes the top of the ink-well.

When it is desired to dip the pen into the ink, the pen being held between the thumb and first finger, the hand is advanced and the little finger is placed upon the button L, depressing this button and the front part of le ver I, raising the rear part of this lever, the connecting-rod H, and crank G and causing the shaft D to be rotated in its bearings. The rotation of this crank draws back the arm E and cap F and the well is open, the position of the various parts being shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. These movements take place instantly and no time is lost in the action. As soon as the pen is lifted from the well and the finger from the button L the weight of the cap F and its connected parts immediately returns the cap to its normal position and the well is closed.

The mechanism is exceedingly simple and inexpensive, is very durable, and in ordinary use cannot get out of order. The ink-well is closed at all times when not actually in use and is opened instantly without unusual effort or movement when thepen is to be dipped into the ink and is closed automatically as soon as the hand holding the pen is withdrawn.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, in an inkstand, of an ink-well, a base, standards carried by said base and extending above the top of said inkwell, a shaft pivoted to said standards and extending across the top of said ink-well, an arm depending from and integral with said shaft, a cap pivotally connected-at its rear end to lower end of said arm and closing the top of ink-well, a crank on said shaft,alever pivoted to the front part of said standards and carrying an operating-button on its front end, and a connecting-link connecting the rear end ICO of said lever and crank, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, in an inkstand, of an ink-well, a base, standards carried by said 5 base and extending above the top of said inkwell, a shaft pivoted to said standards and extending across the top of the ink-well, an arm depending from and integral with said shaft, a cap pivotally connected to lower end of said IO arm and adapted to close the top of the inkwell, a crank on said shaft, a lever pivoted to the front part of said standards and furnished at its front end with an operating-button, a link connecting the rear end of said lever and the crank, and a stop carried by the standard I 5 to which said lever is pivoted and adapted to limit the movement of said lever and its connected parts, all substantially as described.

CHAS. R. STRAUGHN. Witnesses:

MORRIS R. BOCKIUS, CHAS. A. BUTTER. 

